Proteas look to same XI

AFPThe make-up of the South African team for their second Test against Sri Lanka should stay exactly the same with Quinton de Kock keeping.

Colombo – The make-up of the South African team for tomorrow’s second Test against Sri Lanka should stay exactly the same as the side that won in Galle.

AB de Villiers who has had the keeper’s gloves in Test cricket since Mark Boucher was injured in 2012, handed the duties to Quinton de Kock for the Galle Test, due to a hamstring strain. De Kock took his chance, making runs and generally being tidy behind the stumps, and De Villiers admitted that the status quo would remain for Thursday’s Test.

“I didn’t keep in the last game because of the hammy issue, but that has healed now. But my back has always been an issue, and with only two days of preparation, and the fact that I haven’t kept in about six or seven months, it’s probably a bit of both that will keep me out of (keeping) this series,” De Villiers explained.

It is not the first time that he has passed on the keeping responsibilities to De Kock whilst in Sri Lanka. Last year, he did the same in the ODI series, and his worth in the field was immediately apparent then, as it is now. In the Galle Test, he pouched a pair stunning, reflex catches, adding much to a fielding unit that is playing a vital part in keeping the pressure on the opposition.

“I love being on the field. Whatever I do, I do it with a lot of passion. I love playing the game. So I do enjoy fielding. It’s tough at slip. The ball doesn’t come to you very often. So, from that perspective I enjoy keeping more – you’re in the game the whole time. But it’s nice to pull off something special every now and then in the field, to keep the intensity and the energy going.”

While the dynamics for this week’s team look set, De Villiers admitted that the role of the keeper would have to be addressed for the future.

“Long term, I still look at myself as a wicket-keeper batsman,” De Villiers explained.

“The balance of the team was not affected when Quinny came in at six or seven because we also have Vern (Philander) as the all-rounder. Whoever takes the gloves and bats at seven or six, as long as it’s the best guy for the job, I’m happy. I’m still willing to take the gloves for the boys. I just have to come into a series prepared, without any niggles.”

It is an interesting dynamic, but also one that means that South Africa will not consider the option of fielding two spinners at the Sinhalese Sports Club. The pitch that they will play on already looks as flat as Galle – if not flatter – and the selection panel must have considered handing Dane Piedt his debut here.

His control and nagging nature would have come in handy here, and coach Russell Domingo and skipper Hashim Amla took a long, hard look at the conditions, before chatting away at length after Amla’s net session.

It is unusual to change a winning team, and South Africa must feel that Imran Tahir deserves at least another chance to show his worth to the side, in these conditions. The leggie was absent from yesterday’s optional training session, but he is expected to step up his preparations along with the rest of the team this afternoon.

Piedt, meanwhile, has been an enthusiastic participant at nets, much like Wayne Parnell, Kyle Abbott and Stiaan van Zyl. It’s not easy to break into a winning team, and it certainly isn’t any easier to try and crack the nod in a team that is on the brink of being No1 in the world again.

But, just as JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar and now young De Kock will attest, you better be ready to grab it with both hands when the opportunity finally presents itself.

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